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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. In sheet music - a symbol at the beginning of the staff defining the pitch of the notes found in that particular staff.






2. A melodic or - sometimes a harmonic idea presented in a musical form.






3. A symbol used in musical notation indicating to gradually quicken tempo.






4. Originally an improvised cadence by a soloist. Later it became a written out passage to display performance skills of an instrumentalist or performer.






5. Eight full tones above the key note where the scale begins and ends.






6. Time signature with three beats to the measure.






7. A direction to play expressively.






8. One of the two modes of the tonal system. Music written in major keys have a positive affirming character.






9. A composition written for a solo instrument. The soloist plays the melody while the orchestra plays the accompaniment.






10. Music written for a lively French dance for two performers written in triple time.






11. Two or more voices or instruments playing the same note simultaneously.






12. Dull - monotonous tone such as a humming or buzzing sound. Also a bass note held under a melody.






13. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1700's to mid 1800's. The music was spare and emotionally reserved - especially when compared to Romantic and Boroque music.






14. The technique of altering the tone color of a single note or musical line by changing from one instrument to another in the middle of a note or line.






15. A form of writing for vocals that is close to the manner of speech and is rhythmically free.






16. An extended cantata on a sacred subject.






17. A song of praise and glorification. Most often to honor God.






18. A quick 20th century dance written in double time.






19. A piece of music written in triple time. Also an old French dance.






20. A Boroque dance with a drone-bass.






21. Elaborate polyphonic composition of the Boroque and Renaissance periods.






22. Successive notes of a key or mode either ascending or descending.






23. A harmonic given off by a note when it is played.






24. One of two or more parts in polyphonic music. Voice refers to instrumental parts as well as the singing voice.






25. A period in history dating from the 14th to 16th centuries. This period signified the rebirth of music - art - and literature.






26. A musical style characterized as excessive - ornamental - and trivial.






27. A set of seven musicians who perform a composition written for seven parts.






28. An important characteristic of the Romantic period. It is a style where the strict tempo is temporarily abandoned for a more emotional tone.






29. In sheet music - an instruction to repeat the beginning of the piece before stopping on the final chord.






30. The element of music pertaining to time - played as a grouping of notes into accented and unaccented beats.






31. The playing or singing the upper half of the vocal range. Also the highest voice in choral singing.






32. A large group of instrumentalists playing together.






33. In sheet music - an instruction to repeat the beginning of the piece before stopping on the final chord.






34. A rhythmic succession of musical tones - a melody for instruments and voices.






35. Dull - monotonous tone such as a humming or buzzing sound. Also a bass note held under a melody.






36. Repetition of a single tone.






37. Pertaining to the sonata form - a fast movement in triple time.






38. A dance written in triple time - where the accent falls on the first beat of each measure.






39. A contrapuntal song written for at least three voices - usually without accompaniment.






40. The first violin in an orchestra.






41. An important characteristic of the Romantic period. It is a style where the strict tempo is temporarily abandoned for a more emotional tone.






42. The raising and lowering a pitch of an instrument to produce the correct tone of a note.






43. The distance in pitch between two notes.






44. The playing or singing the upper half of the vocal range. Also the highest voice in choral singing.






45. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played smoothly.






46. A piece of music played at the end of a recital responding to the audiences enthusiastic reaction to the performance - shown by continuous applause.






47. The expression the performer brings when playing his instrument.






48. The retuning of a stringed instrument in order to play notes below the ordinary range of the instrument or to produce an usual tone color.






49. A reprise.






50. A piece of music written in triple time. Also an old French dance.